opinion

Color Psychology in Web Design

Do your color choices really influence user behavior on your website?  Does it make any difference what colors you use in your Web design?  

How do you choose color:  is it according to a company logo, the products you sell or the industry you are in?  Is it more a matter of personal preference - yours, the marketing department’s or the business owner’s - or is there a specific strategic intent behind your selections?

Man has always been fascinated with the idea of color, and the analysis of users’ reactions to color now on Internet sites continues to drive much behavioral research.

Many designers choose to begin their designs working only in black, white and varying shades of gray.  Color can emotionally sway or bias people one way or the other, particularly when it comes to logo and marketing design, so it's a good idea to begin a design project without using color, and then experiment with various combinations later.

Color brings into play the natural "argument" between right-brain and left-brain thinking, shifting focus from the visual and perceptive functions of the creative process to a more inspirational, non-verbal methodology.  While it's good to be creative and emotionally inspired, there are some stages of design where logic should be in control.

Most people grow up having a certain "feeling" about each color in the crayon box.  Those emotions are either imparted to us through our own experiences with each color and what it means to us as individuals; or is fed to us through our parents, teachers and mentors who share their ideas about color with us.  However, there is a certain structure of color symbolism that most people will agree upon, whether they realize its influence on them or not.  Once you understand how color works and what it can do, you will better understand how to use it in addition to all of the textures, patterns and illustrations you use to bring your design together as a cohesive production.

What Colors Will You Use?

Beyond the basic emotional response that comes from each color in the spectrum, there are marketing values associated with each as well.  Green represents money, which in turn makes consumers think about making a purchase.  Orange represents value - a good deal, a great price - and encourages consumers to look no further and buy the item immediately.  There are other colors associated with different consumer responses; however none of them are set in stone.

The colors you choose and use in your design should represent something, and should never just be plucked out of the air at random.  The success of your design and its impact on visitors and customers will depend on the colors you choose in relation to the items or services you are attempting to sell.  Colors should harmonize and complement each other, not clash or create a jarring response.  Gain more understanding of each of the colors and the effect of each on your website users, how they can positively and negatively influence individual behavior, and improve your design work!

Research color psychology in design on the ‘Net and incorporate some of this thinking in your site redesigns, and as your joins improve, make sure you can convert every visitor with their preferred local payment method – for guidance and information in capturing every potential join in your traffic, talk to me about your marketing plan.

Now get busy!

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Tips for Staying Sexually Healthy as a Livestreamer

In addition to the absolute essentials — like regular STI testing, bodily cleanliness, consent discussions and maintaining intentional boundaries — content creators who work as livestreamers must attend to a unique set of concerns.

Mikayela Miller ·
trends

Multipurpose Products Take Center Stage as Pleasure Brands Face Headwinds in Europe

As 2025 unfolds, the European pleasure industry finds itself balancing between resilience and recalibration. After riding high on customer demand during the pandemic, the sector is now adjusting to more cautious customer behavior, global geopolitical tensions and shifting retail strategies.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

Balancing Content Creation With Real-Life Desire

Let’s be real for a moment: Nobody actually wakes up turned on, camera-ready and full of fantasy, then stays that way 24/7. For most people, that’s not a problem — but when your livelihood depends on creating clips, livestreaming or running fan pages, a mismatch between libido and schedule can feel like a personal and professional crisis.

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Cami Strella on Crafting Persona, Claiming Power

With her long, silky black hair, dark eyes and warm olive skin, Cami Strella looks like she might have stepped out of an Isabele Allende novel. But while she may be in the business of fantasy — as are all adult performers and creators, to one degree or another — the thriving indie brand Strella has been building, one strategic move at a time, is very real indeed.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA Profile: Sara Gaffoor

Though it may seem surprising to outsiders, industry veterans are well acquainted with the self-esteem, personal growth and rewarding career achievements that can come with a job in the sex toy space.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Zhe Founder Karyn Elizabeth Creates Gender-Affirming Lingerie Fashion

For years, the mainstream lingerie market has been shaped by narrow beauty standards and cisnormativity, with little room for gender diversity. Most lingerie is designed to fit cisgender female bodies, while trans people are often forced to go DIY with uncomfortable solutions like pantyhose, duct tape and ill-fitting shapewear.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry

North Carolina House Bill 805 was enacted July 29, after the state legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto. The provisions that relate to the adult industry, imposing requirements for age verification, consent and content removal, are scheduled to become effective Dec. 1. Platforms have until then to update their policies and systems to comply with the new regulations.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia

So, you’ve got your eye on international growth. Smart move. No matter where adult-industry merchants operate, however, one requirement remains consistent: regulatory compliance. This isn’t just a legal checkbox — it’s a critical component of keeping payments flowing and business operations intact.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

Neon Coyotes Sets the Tone for Trendiness With Bespoke Leather Kink Wear

If your kink wear can’t readily make the leap from a dark BDSM dungeon to a sunny, mimosa-fueled brunch, you haven’t yet been initiated into the cult of the Neon Coyotes — fresh, leather kink wear brand transforming restraints into runway-ready art.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI

In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.

Zondre Watson ·
Show More